Gina Williams facts for kids

Gina Williams is an Australian singer, songwriter, and author from Western Australia. She has released five studio albums. Gina has also won seven West Australian Music Industry Awards. She is known for singing in the Noongar language.

Early Life and Heritage

Gina Williams is a Ballardong Noongar woman. The Noongar people are one of the many Aboriginal groups in Western Australia. Her family also has links to the Kija people from the East Kimberley region.

Gina's parents and grandmother were part of the Stolen Generations. This was a sad time when many Aboriginal children were taken from their families. Because of this, her family was not allowed to speak their traditional languages.

Gina grew up without knowing much about her true family history. She learned about it as an adult. She wanted to learn the Noongar language to teach her own children. Gina says the Noongar language sounds like music to her. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a singer like Sarah Vaughan.

Music Career Highlights

Early Solo Work (2000–2010)

In 2001, Gina Williams won her first West Australian Music Industry Award (WAMI). She won for Indigenous Song of the Year. In 2003, she won Most Popular Local Original Indigenous Act.

Gina was a main performer for International Women’s Day in 2009. She also performed at other big events in Perth that year.

When she was 40, Gina started learning the Noongar language at TAFE. While studying, she wrote her first song in the Balladong dialect. It was called "Iggy's Lullaby."

Later in 2009, Gina wrote a song called "Wanjoo" (which means "Welcome"). She wrote it to be used as a Welcome to Country song. Her language teacher loved it, and Gina began teaching it to her classmates.

In 2010, Gina performed a show called "Gina Williams and the Lubbly Sings." In this show, she shared stories about her life and her people.

Collaborations with Guy Ghouse (2011–Present)

Around 2010, Gina started working with guitarist Guy Ghouse. Guy is an Australian musician with Chinese and Indian heritage. He grew up in the Kimberley region.

In 2014, Gina and Guy released their first album together, called Kalyakoorl. This means "Forever" in Noongar. The album was sung completely in the Noongar language. It featured other talented musicians like Russell Holmes and Roy Martinez. Gina's daughters, Lauren and Bella McGill, sang backing vocals.

Their second album, Bindi Bindi, came out in 2018. "Bindi Bindi" means "The Butterfly" in Noongar. A reviewer from The West Australian newspaper praised the album. He called it an "important stepping stone" for the Noongar language and culture. He also said it was a "plain lovely musical gem."

In 2018, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse signed a worldwide music publishing deal.

Their third album, Koorlangka, was released in February 2020. "Koorlangka" means "Children/Legacy" in Noongar. This album features lullabies and children's songs. They are sung in the Noongar language. The songs mix traditional Indigenous stories with classic tales.

In 2021, Gina released her first book, also called Wanjoo. Students from Ashfield Primary School in Perth created the illustrations for the book.

Also in 2021, Gina and Guy published their first music book. It is called "Kalyakoorl, ngalak warangka" (Forever, we sing). This book includes music for voice, guitar, and piano. In October 2021, a Noongar Opera called Koolbardi Wer Wardong was performed. It tells the story of Koolbardi the Magpie and Wardong the Crow.

Gina and Guy continue to hold free music and language workshops. These workshops include storytelling, music, and singing together.

Special Recognitions

In 2021, Gina Williams was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized her important contributions to the performing arts, Indigenous music, and media.

Since 2021, she has been on the Board of Directors for the Australian Music Centre.

In 2021, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse became the first patrons of the Perth International Cabaret Festival.

Music Albums

Awards and Achievements

West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIS)

The West Australian Music Industry Awards are given each year to people in the local music industry. Gina Williams has won seven of these awards.

West Australian of the Year Awards

These awards celebrate people from Western Australia who have made important contributions. This includes areas like arts, culture, and the Aboriginal community.

Western Australia Women Hall of Fame

The Western Australian Women's Hall of Fame was created in 2011. It honors women who have made a big difference in Western Australia.